Last updated: May 2025
The "Ventanilla Wetlands" Regional Conservation Area (ACR) is an area of 275.45 hectares protected and administered by the Regional Management of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of the Regional Government of Callao (1, 2). It was established on December 20, 2006, by Supreme Decree No. 074-2006-AG, to conserve a representative sample of the coastal wetlands of the Subtropical Pacific Desert (2). With an ecosystem shaped by various hydrological and ecological processes, the "Ventanilla Wetlands" ACR is home to 126 bird species and 27 native plant species, making it an ideal area for ecotourism, recreational, educational, scientific, and cultural activities, thanks to its landscapes and biodiversity (2). However, the Ventanilla Wetlands face several challenges due to urban growth, water pollution, waste, traffic and plane overflights from the National Police and Navy, leading to a decline in bird populations due to noise exposure (5). This area is fed by the hydrological system of the Chillón River, by surface waters from the Sedapal oxidation ponds, and by water seepage from nearby human settlements and populations adjacent to the wetland. The Ventanilla Wetlands are also influenced by the marine system, especially in the northwest zone. This gives the ACR area lagoon-like characteristics, meaning that its waters are slightly brackish despite being separated from the sea. The internal hydrological system supports the growth of species such as cattails, bulrushes, and reeds. In total, there are 27 native plant species, which serve the function of filtering and purifying the wetland's water. Additionally, the flora provides protection and food for various fauna species, particularly birds, with 126 species recorded, including resident and migratory birds from the Andes, local areas, and the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Moreover, this protected natural area is home to five reptile species, including endemic species from Lima that are endangered (3).
Handicrafts made from reed extracted from the Ventanilla Wetlands ACR.
Peruvian Government
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Soil degradation and loss
- Poor water quality
- Physical water retention and availability
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Restoration of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass), Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Protecton and enhancement of wetlands (other types than peatlands and mangroves, e.g. seagrass), Habitat conservation, Creating nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, or biodiversity hotspots to conserve unique ecosystems
Project objectives
- To conserve a representative sample of wetlands present in the Subtropical Pacific Desert ecoregion, including associated values and fragile ecosystems that provide habitat for migratory and resident avifauna and other local fauna and flora (5).
- To contribute to Ecological and Economic Zoning for land use planning and environmental management within the Regional Government of Callao (9)
- To protect soils and vegetation as regulators of the hydrological regime, to ensure water supply and other environmental services for the benefit of its environmental components (9)
- To control and mitigate threats to the wetland (9)
- To avoid degradation and loss of biodiversity and its associated values (9)
- To create the minimum conditions necessary for future ecotourism, recreational, educational, scientific, and cultural activities (9)
Implementation activities
The Regional Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Management has a strategic plan implemented by trained personnel in the Ventanilla wetlands to mitigate these impacts so that they can be completely eradicated in the long term. Thus, through its management, it has been carrying out cleanup and solid waste collection; environmental and biological monitoring; maintenance of canals, water bodies, and infrastructure; installation of informative and dissuasive signs; development and implementation of a contingency plan for fire threats; and awareness-raising through the development and dissemination of photographic and film material, among others (1, 6).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Protect and restore in-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors aiming at sequestering carbon dioxide and storing it in their soil
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Informal settlements or slums
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
It is administered and fully financed by the Regional Government of Callao. The National Institute of Natural Resources - INRENA is responsible for the supervision and technical assistance, as well as for training the personnel designated by the Regional Government of Callao to administer the protected natural area (5)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Board of Directors Decree No. 015-2001-CD/CONAM of June 19, 2001, to contribute to the formulation of the environmental policy of Callao, facilitating the coordination of actions between local institutions and CONAM, formulating and executing the Action Plan and Environmental Agenda of Callao, as well as preparing proposals for environmental management and policies (5).)
Type of enablers
Capacity-building projects, City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city, Other
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Achieved improved water quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Achieved increase in protected green space areas
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Achieved reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Achieved increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- More sustainable tourism
- Achieved more sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Preserved spiritual and religious values
- Achieved preserved spiritual and religious values
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Peruvian Government (n.d.). Área de Conservación Regional Humedales de Ventanilla. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Peruvian Government (n.d.). Área de Conservación Regional Humedales de Ventanilla - Descripción. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Peruvian Government (n.d.). Área de Conservación Regional Humedales de Ventanilla - Biodiversidad. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Olivares, E. (n.d.). Renaturalizar LIMA - Proyecto Humedal Ventanilla. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Cruces Aguirre, D. (2018). EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL UNA ESTRATEGIA PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN DE LOS HUMEDALES DE VENTANILLA . 4th Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Callao Regional Government (n.d.). Actividades de Conservación. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Arrús Benavente, D., Mogollón Cuba, M. (2019). CENTRO DE INTERPRETACIÓN DE LOS HUMEDALES DE VENTANILLA - TOMO 1. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Gonzales Santos, M. (2021). Proyecto de Ley 7885/2020 CR. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Peruvian Government (2006). Decreto Supremo N°074-2006-AG. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
Maintenance of infrastructure of the Ventanilla Wetlands
Callao Regional Government
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.